Positioning Structure For Sheet-Shaped Component And Display Device Using Same

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal panel is mounted in a frame. A positioning component for supporting the liquid crystal panel in a positioned state is attached to the frame using a screw components. A positioning protrusion is provided in the frame. A positioning hole portion into which the positioning protrusion can be inserted is provided in the positioning component. The positioning hole portion has a size such that, in a state in which the positioning protrusion is inserted therein, the positioning component can be moved in a direction in which a support surface of the positioning component approaches or moves away from the liquid crystal panel. A bracket surface that is substantially parallel with a direction in which the support surface of the positioning component approaches or moves away from liquid crystal panel is provided in the positioning protrusion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a positioning structure for asheet-shaped component, and a display device that uses the same.

BACKGROUND ART

A liquid crystal display device that is one kind of display device isbroadly constructed by assembling a backlight device as an externallight source on the rear side of a liquid crystal panel for displayingimages. The liquid crystal panel is held in a state in which it issandwiched between a frame-shaped bezel that surrounds the displayregion thereof and a frame that is one portion of the backlight device.When assembling the liquid crystal panel, after mounting the liquidcrystal panel on the frame, the liquid crystal panel is put into contactwith the bezel from the front surface side and the screw is tightened.

In this assembly process it is necessary to support the liquid crystalpanel that is mounted on the frame in a positioned state with respect tothe surface direction thereof. Consequently, positioning portions thatare capable of supporting the outer peripheral end face of the liquidcrystal panel are provided in the frame. The positioning portions aredisposed at locations corresponding to four sides of the outerperipheral end face of the liquid crystal panel in the frame.

However, if all of the positioning portions are provided beforehand inthe frame, a problem arises that the workability when placing the liquidcrystal panel is unfavorable. Hence, a configuration could be consideredin which a positioning portion corresponding to at least one side isformed as a separate member from the frame, and after mounting theliquid crystal panel by passing it through the place in the frame inwhich the positioning portion is not provided, a positioning componentis attached as a separate member.

In this connection, the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 isknown as an example of a structure in which a positioning component isprovided as a separate member from a frame.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 2001-209327

The following structure can be considered as a structure for fixing apositioning component when the positioning component is provided as aseparate member to a frame as described above. Namely, a structure inwhich a through hole that allows a screw component to pass therethroughis provided in the positioning component and a screw hole for tighteningthe screw component is provided in the frame.

On the other hand, variations in the size of a liquid crystal panel mayarise for each individual product within a range of tolerance. Hence, astructure can be considered in which a positioning protrusion isprovided in the frame, while a positioning recess into which thepositioning protrusion can be inserted is provided in the positioningcomponent, and by making the positioning recess a rectangular shape, themounting position of the positioning component can be adjusted inaccordance with the size of the liquid crystal panel.

However, when the positioning recess is made in a rectangular shape asdescribed above, the following problem arises. That is, although thework of tightening the screw component is performed using an electrictool, since a clearance is provided to allow movement as described abovebetween the positioning recess and the positioning protrusion, there isa concern that the positioning component will be rotated by thetightening force applied to the screw component.

The present invention was completed based on the above describedcircumstances, and an object of the present invention is to controlrotation of a positioning component accompanying tightening of a screwcomponent.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a bracket component on which asheet-shaped component having translucency is mounted, a positioningcomponent that is attached to the bracket component and is capable ofsupporting the sheet-shaped component in a positioned state with respectto the surface direction thereof, and a screw component that is capableof fixing the positioning component by being tightened with respect tothe bracket component, wherein a positioning protrusion is provided inone member of the group consisting of the bracket component and thepositioning component, while a positioning recess into which thepositioning protrusion can be inserted is provided in the other(remaining) member of the group, the positioning recess being formed ina size such that, in a state in which the positioning protrusion isinserted into the positioning recess, the positioning component can bemoved in a direction in which a support surface of the positioningcomponent approaches or moves away from the sheet-shaped component, andwherein, on a peripheral surface facing the positioning recess of thepositioning protrusion is formed a bracket surface that is substantiallyparallel with the direction in which the support surface of thepositioning component approaches or moves away from the sheet-shapedcomponent.

By adopting this configuration, when the positioning component isattached after mounting the sheet-shaped component on the bracketcomponent, in a state in which the positioning protrusion is inserted inthe positioning recess, the attachment position of the positioningcomponent with respect to the bracket component can be adjusted bymoving the positioning component in a direction in which the supportsurface approaches or moves away from the sheet-shaped component.Thereafter, by tightening the screw component, the sheet-shapedcomponent is supported in a positioned state by the positioningcomponent.

Since the positioning recess is formed in a size that allows movement ofthe positioning component in a state in which the positioning protrusionis inserted therein, there is a concern that the positioning componentwill rotate with respect to the bracket component accompanyingtightening of the screw component. However, according to the presentinvention, because a bracket surface that is substantially parallel witha direction in which the support surface of the positioning componentapproaches or moves away from the sheet-shaped component is provided ona peripheral surface facing the positioning recess of the positioningprotrusion, the angular range in which the positioning component rotatesaccompanying tightening of the screw component can be restricted to anextremely small range.

The following configurations are preferable as embodiments of thepresent invention.

(1) A configuration in which a pair of the bracket surfaces are providedon a peripheral surface facing the positioning recess of the positioningprotrusion. It is thereby possible to securely receive the tighteningforce of the screw component with the pair of bracket surfaces.

(2) A configuration in which the positioning protrusion and thepositioning recess are provided in respective pairs at positions thatsandwich the screw component. It is thereby possible to securely receivethe tightening force of the screw component with the pair of positioningprotrusions and pair of positioning recesses that are provided atpositions sandwiching the screw component.

(3) A configuration in which the positioning protrusion is formed in asquare shape. Production is thereby made simple in comparison to a casein which, for example, the positioning protrusion is formed in a shapesuch as a trapezoidal shape.

(4) A configuration which uses a positioning structure for thesheet-shaped component in a display device.

According to the present invention, rotation of a positioning componentaccompanying tightening of a screw component can be controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal displaydevice according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the liquid crystal displaydevice;

FIG. 3 is an oblique perspective view of the liquid crystal displaydevice;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the state before mounting a liquid crystalpanel in a frame;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the state in which the liquid crystalpanel is mounted in the frame;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which a positioning componentis mounted in the frame;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the positioning componenthas been moved to the liquid crystal panel side so that the supportsurface contacts therewith;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a state in which a screw component istightened; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the liquid crystal panelis supported in a positioned state by the positioning portion and thepositioning component.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

-   10 liquid crystal display device (display device)-   11 liquid crystal panel (sheet-shaped component)-   14 frame (bracket component)-   32 positioning component-   36 support surface-   37 screw component-   39 positioning protrusion-   41 positioning hole portion (positioning recess)-   42 bracket surface

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described referringto FIG. 1 to FIG. 10. According to the present embodiment, a liquidcrystal display device 10 that is one kind of display device isdescribed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device 10 broadlycomprises a sheet-shaped liquid crystal panel 11 that has translucency,a backlight device 12 as an external light source that is disposed onthe rear side thereof, and a substantially frame-shaped bezel 13 forholding the liquid crystal panel 11. The liquid crystal panel 11 isconfigured to be received by a frame 14 that forms the backlight device12 and to be held in a state in which it is sandwiched between the frame14 and the bezel 13 that is fixed to the frame 14 from the front face.

The backlight device 12 will now be described in detail. As shown inFIG. 2, the backlight device 12 broadly comprises a metallic base 15that forms a substantially rectangular box shape in which the top faceside as illustrated in the drawing is open, a plurality of opticalsheets 16 (four sheets comprising, in order from the bottom side in FIG.2, a diffusing plate, a diffusing sheet, a lens sheet, and a brightnessenhancing sheet) that are attached so as to cover the open portion ofthe base 15, a frame 14 that can hold the optical sheets 16 in a statein which they are sandwiched between the frame 14 and the base 15, and aplurality of cold cathode tubes 17 as lamps that are housed inside thebase 15. Each optical sheet 16 is a component for converting asubstantially linear shaped light that is emitted from each cold cathodetube 17 into a sheet shape, and is formed in a rectangular sheet shapethat is larger than the display region of the liquid crystal displaydevice 10. The optical sheets 16 are configured so as to be stackedvertically as shown in FIG. 2 and held in a state in which an outerperipheral margin portion that is further on the outer side than thedisplay region is sandwiched between an outer peripheral margin portionof the base 15 on the rear side and the frame-shaped frame 14 on thefront face side.

The liquid crystal panel 11 broadly comprises a pair of glass substrates18, liquid crystal 19 that is filled between the two glass substrates18, and a pair of polarizing plates 20 that are affixed to the outerfaces (face on opposite side to the liquid crystal 19 side) of the twoglass substrates 18. The two glass substrates 18 are pasted together ina state in which they face each other with a predetermined gap formedbetween them by a spacer. The liquid crystal 19 that is filled betweenthe glass substrates 18 is surrounded by a sealing compound 21. In theglass substrate 18 on the rear side, switching elements (for example,TFTs) that are connected to a source wiring and a gate wiring that aremutually orthogonal are provided in a state in which pixel electrodes ofR, G, and B form a matrix shape, respectively, on the glass substrate 18on the front side. At an end of the glass substrate 18 on the rear side,one end side of a SOF 22 (system on film) is connected through ananisotropic conductive film (ACF) to the source wiring or the gatewiring, and a print substrate 23 is connected to the other end side ofthe SOF 22. The print substrate 23 is fixed by a screw to a peripheralwall portion 28 of the frame 14 in a vertical posture in a mannercausing the SOF 22 to bend.

To display an image on the liquid crystal panel 11 having the abovedescribed configuration, it is necessary to cause each cold cathode tube17 of the backlight device 12 to light, and also to drive each switchingelement by appropriately supplying signals to each wiring to therebycontrol the disposal state of the liquid crystal 19. It is therebypossible to display a desired image on the liquid crystal panel 11.Accordingly, the display region of the liquid crystal display device 10is substantially equal to a region in which the switching elements orpixel electrodes are provided, and is a region that is further on theinner side than the inner peripheral end face of the bezel 13 or theframe 14. The outer peripheral margin portion of the liquid crystalpanel 11, that is, a frame-shaped region that is further on the outerside than the display region is a section that is required for fixingthe liquid crystal panel 11 to the bezel 13 and the frame 14.

The bezel 13 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the overallstructure of the bezel 13 is formed in a rectangular frame shape bysubjecting a metal plate to press molding or the like. The bezel 13consists of a holding portion 24 that is put into contact with the frontface side of the liquid crystal panel 11, and a peripheral wall portion25 that projects in the downward direction as shown in FIG. 1 from theouter peripheral end of the holding portion 24 and is disposed on theouter side of the peripheral wall portion 28 of the frame 14. The crosssection of the bezel 13 is formed in a substantially L shape. Throughholes 26 through which screws B for fixing the bezel 13 to the frame 14can pass are provided in the holding portion 24. The through holes 26are provided at three places on each of the long side sections of theholding portion 24 and at two places on each of the short side sectionsthereof.

Next, the frame 14 constituting the backlight device 12 is described indetail. Similarly to the bezel 13, overall structure of the frame 14 isformed in a substantially rectangular frame shape by subjecting a metalplate to press molding or the like. The frame 14 consists of a bracketportion 27 that receives the liquid crystal panel 11, and a peripheralwall portion 28 that projects in the downward direction as shown in FIG.1 from the outer peripheral end of the bracket portion 27 and surroundsthe outside of the peripheral wall portion of the base 15. While thebracket portion 27 is formed in a condition that is substantiallyparallel to the surface direction of the liquid crystal panel 11, theperipheral wall portion 28 is substantially perpendicular to the surfacedirection of the liquid crystal panel 11. Screw holes 29 into whichscrews B for fixing the bezel 13 as described later can be screwed areprovided in the bracket portion 27. The screw holes 29 are provided atthree places on each of the long side sections 27 a of the bracketportion 27 and at two places on each of the short side sections 27 bthereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5, in the bracket portion 27 of theframe 14 are provided positioning portions 30 that can position theliquid crystal panel 11 in the surface direction by supporting the outerperipheral end faces 11 a and 11 b of the mounted liquid crystal panel11. The positioning portions 30 are formed by cutting inward into oneportion of the bracket portion 27. The positioning portions 30 arearranged to protrude to the side of the liquid crystal panel 11 from thebracket surface with respect to the liquid crystal panel 11 of thebracket portion 27 and also face the outer peripheral end faces 11 a and11 b of the liquid crystal panel 11. An angle formed by the positioningportions 30 with respect to the bracket portion 27 is substantially 90degrees.

The positioning portions 30 are provided on the two long side sections27 a of the bracket portion 27 of the frame 14 and on the short sidesection 27 b on the left side of the bracket portion 27 as shown in FIG.5. The positioning portions 30 can support three sides among the outerperipheral end faces 11 a and 11 b of the corresponding liquid crystalpanel 11, namely, the faces 11 a on the two long sides and the face 11 bon the short side in FIG. 5. More specifically, a total of eight of thepositioning portions 30 are provided: three at locations with apredetermined clearance therebetween on each of the two long sidesections 27 a of the bracket portion 27, and two adjacent to the two endpositions of the short side section 27 b of the left side in FIG. 5.Each of the positioning portions 30 on the two long side portions 27 ais arranged so as not to interact with the SOFs 22 of the liquid crystalpanel 11 at the time of attachment. Rubber buffer members 31 areprovided on the inner surface of each positioning portion 30, i.e. onthe surface facing the outer peripheral end faces 11 a and 11 b of theliquid crystal panel 11. Since the liquid crystal panel 11 is supportedby the positioning portions 30 via the elastically contractible buffermembers 31, it is difficult for the liquid crystal panel 11 to receivedamage or the like.

Thus, a positioning portion 30 is not provided on the short side section27 b on the right side shown in FIG. 5 of the bracket portion 27 of theframe 14. Accordingly, work to mount the liquid crystal panel 11 in theframe 14 can be performed by sliding the liquid crystal panel 11 fromthe short side section 27 b side on the right side of the bracketportion 27 of the frame 14 as shown in FIG. 5. The direction forattaching the liquid crystal panel 11 matches the longitudinal directionof the liquid crystal display device 10.

Positioning components 32 that are capable of supporting the face 11 bon the right short side shown in FIG. 5 among the outer peripheral endfaces 11 a and 11 b of the liquid crystal panel 11 are attachable on theshort side section 27 b on the right side of the bracket portion 27.Similarly to the frame 14, the positioning component 32 is formed bysubjecting a metal plate to press molding or the like so that a crosssection of its overall configuration forms a substantially L shape. Thepositioning component 32 is configured to be attached in a pair near thetwo ends of the short side section 27 b on the right side of the bracketportion 27. The positions of the pair of positioning components 32 isset to be substantially the same as the two positioning portions 30 onthe short side section 27 b on the left side. As described in detaillater, the positioning components 32 are configured to be fixed in amounted state with respect to the frame 14 by screw components 37.

The positioning component 32 consists of a main body portion 33 that isput into contact with the bracket portion 27 and a support portion 34that rises from the end edge of the main body portion 33 and is capableof supporting the outer peripheral end face 11 b of the liquid crystalpanel 11. The main body portion 33 is formed substantially parallel withthe bracket portion 27 (surface direction of the liquid crystal panel11, and the support portion 34 is formed substantially parallel with thepositioning portion 30. The main body portion 33 and the support portion34 are both formed in the shape of a vertical rectangle along the lengthdirection (direction perpendicular with the mounting direction of theliquid crystal panel 11) of the short side sections 27 b of the bracketportion 27. An angle formed by the main body portion 33 and the supportportion 34 is substantially 90 degrees.

On the surface on the opposite side to the main body portion side of thesupport portion 34, i.e. the surface facing the outer peripheral endface 11 b of the liquid crystal panel 11, an elastically contractiblebuffer member 35 made of rubber is provided similarly to the positioningportion 30. The surface on the opposite side to the support portion 34side of the buffer member 35 is employed as a support surface 36 withrespect to the outer peripheral end face of the liquid crystal panel.

Next, the mounting structure of the positioning component 32 withrespect to the bracket portion 27 of the frame 14 is described indetail. The frame 14 side is described first. A screw hole 38 into whicha screw component 37 for fixing a positioning component 32 can bescrewed is provided in the short side section 27 b on the right side asshown in FIG. 5 of the bracket portion 27 of the frame 14. Two screwholes 38 are arranged at positions corresponding to the mountingpositions of the positioning component 32 (near both end positions inthe short side section 27 b). The positioning protrusions 39 areprovided in respective pairs at positions on the short side section 27 bthat sandwich the above described screw hole 38. The two positioningprotrusion 39 and the screw hole 38 are disposed in an aligned manneralong the length direction of the bracket portion 27 or the positioningcomponent 32, and the center positions of each are arranged in asubstantially collinear shape. The shape and the like of the positioningprotrusions 39 are described in detail later.

A screw through-hole 40 through which a screw component 37 can pass ispenetratingly formed at a center position in the length direction in themain body portion 33 of each positioning component 32. The screwthrough-hole 40 is formed in a circular shape in which the diametricaldimensions are larger than the shank of the screw component 37 by apredetermined clearance amount. Positioning hole portions 41 into whichthe positioning protrusions 39 on the frame 14 can be inserted areprovided in a pair at positions sandwiching the screw through hole 40 inthe main body portion 33. The positioning hole portions 41 are disposednear positions at both ends of the main body portion 33 and are formedin a condition in which they penetrate through the main body portion 33.The two positioning hole portions 41 and the screw through hole 40 aredisposed in an aligned manner along the length direction of the bracketportion 27 or the positioning component 32, and the center positions ofeach are arranged in a substantially collinear shape.

The positioning hole portion 41 is formed in a long, substantiallysquare shape (substantially quadrangular shape) along the lateraldirection, i.e. the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal displaydevice 10 (direction in which the support surface 36 of the positioningcomponent 32 approaches or moves away from the liquid crystal panel 11).Among the inner peripheral surfaces of the positioning hole portion 41,a surface 41 a on the side of a long side (surface 41 a facing a bracketsurface 42 that is described later) is formed substantially straightalong the lateral direction, and a surface 41 b on the side of a shortside is formed substantially straight along the vertical direction.

The dimensions in the vertical direction of the positioning hole portion41 constitute a size that has a minimum clearance of a degree thatallows insertion of the positioning protrusion 39, while the dimensionsin the lateral direction constitute a size with a predeterminedclearance that are larger than the dimensions in the vertical direction.Accordingly, in a state in which the positioning protrusion 39 isinserted into the positioning hole portion 41, it is possible torelatively move the positioning component 32 with respect to the frame14, and accompanying this movement the support surface 36 of thepositioning component 32 approaches or moves away from the outerperipheral end face 11 b of the liquid crystal panel 11. A difference(clearance) between the dimensions in the lateral direction of thepositioning protrusion 39 and the dimensions in the lateral direction ofthe positioning hole portion 41 are set to be substantially the same asor greater than the tolerance range in the length dimensions of the sideof a long side that arises when manufacturing the liquid crystal panel11.

A clearance between the screw through hole 40 and the screw hole 38(shank of screw component 37) is set to be about the same as theclearance in the lateral direction between the positioning protrusion 39and the positioning hole portion 41 as described above. As a result, nomatter what position the positioning component 32 is installed at, thescrew through hole 40 and the screw hole 38 can definitely communicate.

The positioning protrusion 39 will now be described in detail. Thepositioning protrusion 39 is made in a form that protrudes further tothe side of the positioning component 32 than the abutting surface withrespect to the positioning component 32 of the bracket portion 27 byknocking out the bracket portion 27 from the rear side. As shown in FIG.5, the cross sectional shape of the positioning protrusion 39 forms asubstantially square shape, and more specifically, forms a substantiallysquare shape in which the dimensions in the vertical direction and thedimensions in the lateral direction are substantially the same. Amongthe outer peripheral surfaces (peripheral surfaces facing thepositioning hole portion 41) of the positioning protrusion 39, thesurface on the upper side and surface on the lower side shown in FIG. 5,i.e. the surfaces along the lateral direction, are taken as bracketsurfaces 42 with respect to the positioning hole portion 41.

More specifically, the bracket surfaces 42 are provided in respectivepairs in each positioning protrusion 39, and face opposing sides to eachother. The bracket surfaces 42 can regulate the rotational movement ofthe positioning component 32 by receiving the facing surfaces 41 a ofthe positioning hole portion 41 when the positioning component 32attempts to rotate due to a tightening force generated when tighteningthe screw component 37. The bracket surfaces 42 are formed in a shapethat is substantially straight along the lateral direction and issubstantially parallel with the facing surfaces 41 a of the positioninghole portion 41. In other words, the bracket surface 42 aresubstantially parallel with a direction in which the support surface 36of the positioning component 32 approaches or moves away from the liquidcrystal panel 11. Accordingly, in a state in which the positioningprotrusion 39 is inserted inside the positioning hole portion 41, adistance between the facing surfaces 41 a of the bracket surfaces 42 andthe positioning hole portion 41 is substantially uniform across the fulllength thereof (FIG. 8).

The present embodiment has the above described structure. The action ofthe present embodiment will now be described. After separatelymanufacturing the bezel 13, the liquid crystal panel 11, and thebacklight device 12, work is performed to assemble these components.First, work is performed to mount the liquid crystal panel 11 on theframe 14 of the backlight device 12 from the state shown in FIG. 5. Theliquid crystal panel 11 is inserted so as to slide the liquid crystalpanel 11 into the bracket portion 27 of the frame 14 from the right sideas shown in the figure (side on which the positioning component 32 isattached later). At this time, the print substrate 23 is supported in anappropriate posture so that the SOFs 22 do not interact with thepositioning portions 30.

As shown in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal panel 11 is pushed in as far as adepth at which the face 11 b on the interior side in the installationdirection (face 11 b on the side of the short side shown on the left inthe figure) among the outer peripheral end faces 11 a and 11 b of theliquid crystal panel 11 contacts against the buffer members 31 of thepositioning portions 30. In this state, because the buffer members 31 ofthe positioning portions 30 contact against three sides of the outerperipheral end faces 11 a and 11 b of the liquid crystal panel 11, theliquid crystal panel 11 is supported in a positioned state from threedirections. Even in a case in which the length dimensions on the side ofthe short side of the liquid crystal panel 11 vary for each product,since the buffer members 31 of the positioning portions 30 that aredisposed on the two long side sections 27 a of the bracket portions 27can elastically contract, those variations can be absorbed.

Subsequently, work to attach the positioning component 32 to the frame14 is performed. The main body portion 33 of the positioning component32 is mounted on the bracket portion 27 while aligning the twopositioning hole portions 41 with the two positioning protrusions 39. Atthis time, as shown in FIG. 7, to achieve a state in which the supportsurface 36 is moved away from the opposing face 11 b of the liquidcrystal panel 11 (face 11 b on the side of the short side that is shownon the right in the figure), the positioning protrusion 39 is insertedat a position near the left side of the positioning hole portion 41 asshown in the figure. Thereafter, the positioning component 32 is movedto the left side in the figure along the lateral direction, i.e. to theside approaching the liquid crystal panel 11. This movement operation isallowed by the clearance that is secured between the positioningprotrusion 39 and the positioning hole portion 41.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the positioning component 32 is moved as faras a position at which the support surface 36 of the buffer member 35contacts against the opposing face 11 b of the liquid crystal panel 11and the buffer member 35 elastically contracts to some degree. By movingthe positioning component 32 in this manner, even in a case in which thelength dimensions on the side of the long side of the liquid crystalpanel 11 vary for each product, those variations can be absorbed. Atthis time, the screw through hole 40 is in a state in which itcommunicates with the screw hole 38.

Next, work is performed to tighten the screw component 37 using a toolsuch as an electric screwdriver. By screwing the screw component 37 intothe screw hole 38 via the screw through hole 40, as shown in FIG. 9, thepositioning component 32 is fixed in a mounted state with respect to theframe 14. In this connection, at the time of tightening a force acts viathe screw component 37 to rotate the positioning component 32 in thetightening direction (counterclockwise rotation direction as shown inFIG. 9). In this case, since the positioning hole portion 41 is formedin a shape that is long from side to side for positioning thepositioning component 32, there is a concern that the positioningcomponent 32 will rotate and become displaced accompanying the action ofthe aforementioned tightening force.

If a case is supposed in which the positioning protrusion is formed in across-sectional circular shape, since the faces 41 b on the side of theshort side among the inner peripheral faces of the positioning holeportion 41 will rotate until they contact against the positioningprotrusion, the range of the rotational angle will become quite large.However, according to the present embodiment, since a configuration isadopted in which the positioning protrusion 39 is provided with thebracket surfaces 42 that are substantially parallel with the directionof movement of the positioning component 32, i.e. the direction in whichthe support surface 36 of the positioning component 32 approaches ormoves away from the liquid crystal panel 11, the bracket surfaces 42contact against the opposing faces 41 a of the positioning hole portion41 before the faces 41 b on the side of the short side, and thus therotational movement is controlled. This rotational movement is caused bya very small clearance in the vertical direction between the positioningprotrusion 39 and the positioning hole portion 41 that is secured toallow insertion, and the angular range thereof is the minimum amount.

More specifically, when rotating the positioning component 32, the faces41 a opposing the positioning protrusion 39 of the positioning holeportion 41 change position in an arc in the counterclockwise rotationdirection as shown in FIG. 9 around the axial core position of the screwcomponent 37, and contact against the bracket surfaces 42 of thepositioning protrusion 39 in a posture that is inclined with respect tothe lateral direction. The left side end portion of the bracket surface42 on the upper side of the positioning protrusion 39 as shown in FIG. 9and the right side end portion of the bracket surface 42 on the lowerside contact against the respective opposing faces 41 a of thepositioning hole portion 41 that is inclined. In this connection, thelong dashed double-short dashed line shown in FIG. 9 represents thestate before rotation.

Although the positioning component 32 rotates by a very small amountowing to the aforementioned clearance, since a rubber buffer member 35is provided at the position of direct contact with the liquid crystalpanel 11, the positioning component 32 is held in a state in which it isin surface contact with the opposing face lib of the liquid crystalpanel 11 by the buffer member 35 elastically contracting.

By attaching two positioning components 32 to the frame 14 in thismanner, as shown in FIG. 10, the liquid crystal panel 11 is supported ina positioned state from four sides by the positioning portions 30 andthe positioning components 32. Thereafter, by mounting the bezel 13 fromthe front surface side of the liquid crystal panel 11 and tightening thescrew B, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the liquid crystal panel 11 canbe held in a state in which it is sandwiched between the frame 14 andthe bezel 13.

According to the present embodiment as described above, since bracketsurfaces 42 that are substantially parallel with a direction in whichthe support surface 36 of the positioning component 32 approaches ormoves away from the liquid crystal panel 11 is formed in the positioningprotrusion 39, an angular range in which the positioning component 32rotates accompanying tightening of the screw component 37 can besuppressed to an extremely small range.

Further, since the bracket surfaces 42 are provided in a pair on thepositioning protrusion 39, the tightening force of the screw component37 can be reliably received by the two bracket surfaces 42. Furthermore,since the positioning protrusion 39 and the positioning hole portion 41are provided as a pair in positions sandwiching the screw component 37,the tightening force of the screw component 37 can be received morereliably.

Furthermore, since the positioning protrusion 39 is formed in a squareshape, the manufacture thereof is simple in comparison to a case inwhich, for example, the positioning protrusion is formed in atrapezoidal shape or the like.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described by theforegoing descriptions and drawings. For example, the followingembodiments are also included in the technical scope of the presentinvention, and various modifications other than those described belowmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventiveconcept of the present invention.

(1) The shape of the positioning protrusion may be one in which, forexample, the cross-sectional shape is triangular, trapezoidal, or oval,and in essence may be any shape as long as it has a face that issubstantially parallel with a direction in which the support surface ofthe positioning component approaches or moves away from the liquidcrystal panel. Further, to facilitate insertion into the positioninghole portion, the positioning protrusion may be formed in a taperedshape.

(2) It is not always necessary that the shape of the bracket surface bestraight along the lateral direction, and as long as the bracket surfaceis substantially parallel with a direction in which the support surfaceof the positioning component approaches or moves away from the liquidcrystal panel, a structure in which, for example, the bracket surfaceforms a slight arc shape is also included in the present invention.

(3) A configuration may be adopted in which, opposite to configurationin the above described embodiment, a positioning protrusion is providedon the positioning component side and a positioning hole portion isprovided on the frame side.

(4) Although according to the embodiment described above a structure wasdescribed in which a penetrating hole shape was exemplified as a“positioning recess”, a structure in which a “positioning recess” is anon-penetrating hollow shape is naturally included in the presentinvention. Further, the shape of the positioning hole portion or thescrew through hole can be arbitrarily changed.

(5) The number or disposition positions of the positioning protrusionand the positioning hole portion can be arbitrarily changed. The numberof bracket surfaces can also be arbitrarily changed.

(6) Although a liquid crystal panel was exemplified as a “sheet-shapedcomponent” according to the above described embodiment, the presentinvention can also be applied to a structure that positions an opticalsheet of a backlight device with respect to a base.

(7) Although a case in which a positioning component supports only theside of one side of a liquid crystal panel was exemplified according tothe above described embodiment, a configuration may also be adopted inwhich positioning components support two or more sides.

(8) Although a liquid crystal display device was exemplified as a“display device” according to the above described embodiment, thepresent invention is also applicable to display devices other than aliquid crystal display device.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A positioning structure for a sheet-shaped component,comprising: a bracket component on which a sheet-shaped component ismounted; a positioning component attached to the bracket component andarranged to support the sheet-shaped component in a state with respectto a surface direction thereof; and a screw component arranged to fixthe positioning component to the bracket component by being tightenedwith respect to the bracket component; wherein a positioning protrusionis provided in one of the bracket component and the positioningcomponent, and a positioning recess into which the positioningprotrusion can be inserted is provided in the other of the bracketcomponent and the positioning component; the positioning recess having asize such that, in a state in which the positioning protrusion isinserted into the positioning recess, the positioning component can bemoved in a direction in which a support surface of the positioningcomponent for the sheet-shaped component approaches or moves away fromthe sheet-shaped component; and a bracket surface is arranged on aperipheral surface of the positioning protrusion facing the positioningrecess, the bracket surface is substantially parallel with the directionin which the support surface of the positioning component approaches ormoves away from the sheet-shaped component.
 7. The positioning structurefor a sheet-shaped component according to claim 6, wherein the bracketsurface includes a pair of bracket surfaces provided on the peripheralsurfaces of the positioning protrusion facing the positioning recess. 8.The positioning structure for a sheet-shaped component according toclaim 6, wherein the positioning protrusion includes a pair ofpositioning protrusions, and the positioning recess includes a pair ofpositioning recesses, respectively, at positions on either side of thescrew component.
 9. The positioning structure for a sheet-shapedcomponent according to claim 6, wherein the positioning protrusion has asubstantially square shape.
 10. A display device including thepositioning structure for a sheet-shaped component according to claim 6.